Wheel loader



Nov. 19, 1929. w. w. REEDER WHEEL LOADER Filed Deo. 27, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet WWRE E del Stroe/m34 Nov. 1.9, 1929. I y W, w REEDER 1,736,367

WHEEL LOADER File-d Deo. 27, 192'/ 2 sheets-sneer 2 nu l IH (In y' LI 31a-vento@ WWREEEI" Patented Nov. 19, 1929 Maasai PATENT GFFICE WESLEY W. REEDER, OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS WHEEL LOADER Application led December 27, 1927. Serial No. 242,683.

The primary intention of the present invention is the provision of means for lifting car wheels and loading them upon cars in a safe, expeditious and economical manner.

The invention contemplates a plurality of grapples, a carrier therefor, and operating means for simultaneously releasing the grapples to permit of their disengagement from the load when the latter has reached the required point of discharge.

lVliile the drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention7 it is to be understood that in adapting the means to meet specific needs and requirements, the design may be varied and such other changes in the minorl details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the invention as claimed, without departing from the spirit thereof.

For aV full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof, reference is to be had to the following description and the drawings hereto attached, in which- Figure l is a side view of a wheel loader embodying the invention, the grapples being held in open position.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device, the parts being in the relative position indicated in Figure l.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, the grapples being released and gripping the wheels to be elevated and loaded.

Figure l is a detail sectional view on the line LA of Figure B.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view on the line of Figure 3.

Figure G is an enlarged detail view of an end portion of the carrier and the grapple releasing means.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and designated in the several views of the drawings by like reference characters.

rlhe drawings illustrate a plurality of grapples, the number depending upon the capacity of the loader and the number of wheels to be lifted at each operation. The

grapples are of similar or like formation and in the present instance the loader comprises four grapples, there being an elevating to the opposite bar.

chain l for each of the grapples. Each of the grapples includes a pair of members 2 which cross and are pivotally connected at the point of crossing. Links 3 pivotally connect the members 2 to a carrier 1i. A clevis 55 5 is provided for each pair of links 3 and is connected to the carrier by means of a bolt 6 oranalogous fastening, the same passing through openings formed in the upper ends of the links 3. A chain l, or like part is con- 60 neeted to each of the clevises. The lower gripping ends of the members 2 of each of the grapples are provided with jaws 7, and guides 8, the latter forming extensions of the jaws and flaring to direct the axles of the wheels between the jaws when the device is lowered into operative position to grip the load.

The carrier 4 preferably consists of an elongated frame of rectangular outline, as indicated most clearly in Figure 2. Each longitudinal member or bar of the frame is provided with a like number of grapples, two being shown, and the grapples attached to one of the bars are arranged opposite the spaces formed between the grapples attached This obviates interference of the load and enables the wheels to come close together while the grapples engage the axles at a point midway betweenso the wheels. In this manner the load is uniformly distributed and compactly arranged to admit of a carrier of minimum length being employed for a given number of wheels to be handled at each'operation.

Means vare provided for effecting a simultaneous release of all the grapples from' the load after the latter has reached its destination. These means include a frame 9 similar to the carrier frame /l and disposed there- 9,0 above and mounted to move thereon longitudinally. Loops 'i0 embrace opposite sides of corresponding bars or members of the frames i and 9 and extend over the latter' as indicated most clearly in Figures iand 5 to prevent 95 vertical displacement thereof. The loops l0 are secured to the bars or members comprising the carrier 4. Pulleys or rollers l1 are disposed between the members or bars of the frames i and 9 to reduce the friction to the 10o smallest degree when moving the frame 9. The rollers 11 are mounted between the legs or elements of the loops 10. A lexible connection 12 is provided for each member ot the grapples and is connected at one end to the lower end of the member 2, and passes over a guide pulley 13 provided on the carrier l and is detachably connected at its upper end to the trame 9. A snap hook 1a' at the upperI end of each of the flexible connections 12 is adapted to engage an eye 15 provided upon the trame 9. lVhen the grapples are in engagement with the loacL the parts occupy the relative position indicated most clearly in Figure 3 of the drawings. When the load has reached its destination and has been lowered to relieve the grapples ot the weight the trame 9 is moved longitudinally, thereby drawing upon the ilexible connections 12 and disengaging the grapples from the load, as will be readily appreciated. The grapples are held in open position, as indicated in Figure 1, by a latch mechanism between the two trames 4L and 9. A cross bar 16 attached at its ends to the side bars of the carrier fl is engaged by dogs 17 pivotally mounted upon the side bars or' the frame 9. A transversely disposed rod 18 connects opposite dogs 17 to admit ot simultaneous movement thereof. rl'erminal portions of the transverse rod 18 project beyond the dogs 17 to engage and rest upon the side bars of the frame 9 and thereby limit the downward movement or" the dogs. When the trame 9 is moved longitudinally to disengage the grapples from the load it is held in the adjusted position by the dogs 17 engaging the cross bar 16, as indicated most clearly in Figures 1 and 6. `When the device has been lifted clear ot' the load the dogs 17 are disengaged trom the cross bar 16, when the combined weight of the grapples operates to return the frame 9 to normal position as the grapples assume an operative position as indicated in Figure 3 ofthe drawings. Vhen the device is lowered to pick up a load the jaws of the grapples automatically separate to receive the load and close thereon. It is observed that the axles or' the car wheels pass between the guides 8 which separate to admit of the axles entering the jaws which close thereon, as will be readily appreciated. The arrangementof the members 2 comprising` the grapples and the links 3 causes the aws to grip the load when the lifting *force is applied to the chains 1 or like elevating means.

Having thus described the invention, l claim:

1. A loader comprising a carrier, grapples mounted upon the carrier, a frame movable upon the carrier, flexible connections between the elements of the respective grapples, and the said movable trame, and guide means on the carrier for detlecting the flexible connections intermediate their ends.

2. A loader comprising a carrier, grapples mounted upon the carrier, a frame movable upon the carrier, flexible connections between the elements of the respective grapples, and the said movable trame, guide means on the carrier for del'lecting the flexible connections intermediate their ends, and cooperating latch means between the carrier and the movable frame for holding the latter in adjusted position when moved to hold the members of the grapples in open position.

3. A loader comprising a carrier, a plurality ot grapples each including a pair of pivoted members, links connecting` the members or' the respective grapples to the carrier, a trame slidable on the carrier, flexible connections between the slidable frame and the members of the respective grapples, guide pulleys on the carrier for dellecting the liexible connections intermediate their ends, and cooperating latch devices between the carrier and slidable frame to hold the latter in adjusted position when moved to hold the grapples in open position.

Ll. A loader comprising an elongated carrier iframe, an operating frame slidable upon the carrier iframe, grapples on each side bar of the carrier trame, and having a staggered arrangement, flexible connections between the members ot the several grapples and corresponding' bars of the operating frame, guide elementson the carrier frame for detlecting the flexible connections intermediate their ends, dogs pivotally mounted upon the side bars of the operatingframe and adapted to engage the carrier frame and a transverse rod connecting the dogs and adapted to engage the carrier trame and limit the downward movement ot said dogs.

1n testimony whereof 1 my signature.

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